Bradford College Apprenticeships guide

A guide to

Apprenticeships

www.citytraining.org.uk

2

Welcome Thank you for choosing Bradford College as your apprenticeship provider.

As an established training provider, with 30 years’ experience of delivering apprenticeships and working closely with employers within Bradford and the wider Leeds City Region, there are lots of reasons why Bradford College is the right choice for you. Here at Bradford College we have access to high quality training facilities, we work with approximately 700 employers and have highly qualified industry specialist staff.

What sets us apart?

• 97% of our students go on to secure employment following the completion of their apprenticeship • 82% of our apprentices complete their apprenticeship, this is 12% above the national average • We offer state of the art training facilities for Construction, Dental, Engineering, Health, Motor Vehicle and Service Industries So, if you’re ready to earn whilst you learn, and take the first steps on your journey to employment, join us.

Thank you once again for your interest in Bradford College.

Our commitment to you is: • To provide high quality Career, Information, Advice and Guidance • To provide a tailored experience based on your needs • Work with employers who are committed to providing the best apprenticeship opportunities within our region • Provide ongoing support from enrolment to completion of your apprenticeship

Kind Regards Kelly McAllister Head of Apprenticeships & Business Development

For more details, visit www.citytraining.org.uk or call 01274 728316

3

Contents

6 8 10 12 14 15

WHAT IS AN APPRENTICESHIP?

OUR RECRUITMENT SERVICE

OUR APPRENTICESHIPS

YOUR APPRENTICESHIP JOURNEY

APPRENTICE PROFILES

4

OFSTED SAYS WE’RE GOOD

97% OF OUR APPRENTICES GO ON TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING THEIR APPRENTICESHIP

9/10 OF OUR EMPLOYERS WOULD RECOMMEND US

SUCCESS OUR SUCCESS RATES ARE ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE

9/10 OF OUR APPRENTICES WOULD RECOMMEND US

For more details, visit www.citytraining.org.uk or call 01274 728316

5

What is an apprenticeship?

The Benefits: • Choose your career path • Earn while you learn, the current minimum wage for the first year of an apprenticeship is £3.90*. You’re then paid the national minimum wage once you progress onto the second year of your apprenticeship • No student debt to worry about!

• Increased career prospects - at the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll have a qualification and valuable experience too • After you complete your apprenticeship, you’ll have gained the skills and knowledge needed to either succeed in your chosen career or progress onto the next apprenticeship level.

An apprenticeship is a paid job with training included, which allows you to earn while you learn. Apprenticeships are tailored around the needs of employers so you’ll gain invaluable experience and develop skills that employers within that industry really want.

We have links with fantastic employers across a range of different industries and trades.

*rising to £4.15 in April 2020

6

For some employers, an apprentice can be really valuable as it shows that you’ve got the skills and knowledge to really hit the ground running!

Matthew Hayes, a plumbing apprentice for Bradford Council won Apprentice of the the Year at Bradford Council Apprenticeship Awards 2019.

“I’m proud to win the award. I really like my apprenticeship - I like being able to start a job from scratch and have something to show for it once I’ve finished it.”

You’ll mostly learn through ‘on-the-job’ training. This includes, working within your chosen trade, getting hands-on training from your employer, giving you skills to last a lifetime. Then there’s usually one day a week ‘off-the-job’ training in College.

After completing your apprenticeship you can progress to a higher level of apprenticeship, meaning you’ll get a university level qualification without the burden of student debt.

For more details, visit www.citytraining.org.uk or call 01274 728316

7

Our Recruitment Service To study an apprenticeship, you need to have found an employer willing to provide you with one. If you don’t have one, here are 3 really tips that will help:

Contact the Recruitment Team Our specialist team work with hundreds of employers across a wide range of sectors, all of our vacancies are advertised on citytraining.org.uk/apprenticeshipvacancies You can contact the team on 01274 728316 for additional advice and guidance and to discuss any vacancies in more detail.

Visit local employers Contact employers in your area and ask if they would be interested in receiving your CV as a potential new apprentice.

If you don’t have a CV, we offer CV Building workshops that can help.

Book your place with the Recruitment Team today!

8

Volunteer/work experience Offer your services as a volunteer or ask about work experience. You’ll leave a lasting impression by showing your commitment to understanding the job and sector you’re interested in.

Employer interview What to expect?

In most cases employers will want to meet you before agreeing to employ you as an apprentice, how they do this differs from employer to employer.

Telephone

Remember to be professional, polite, enthusiastic and easy to understand. It’s always a good idea to look on an employer’s website before any interview so you have a basic understanding of who they are and what they do.

Face-to-face

What if i have never had a job before?

It’s not unusual that apprentice applicants have not had a job before, however you have a wealth of experience based on your time at school and volunteering you’ve undertaken.

How do I answer questions about skills and experience if this is my first job?

Firstly, try not to worry. Employers are looking for potential not someone with all the skills and experience needed to do the job. Think about projects and assignments which have required you to; working independently, working as part of a team, working to timescales and deadlines and working under pressure. All of these experiences will help you when answering questions during the interview process.

What do i need to prepare?

It’s important to make a positive first impression; employers don’t expect you to know everything about the profession or their business. The key things are to; arrive on time, dress appropriately, be polite, be positive and ask questions.

• Research the company as much as possible, look at their website and make notes • Understand what they do and the services they offer • Take a copy of your CV with you to the interview

Panel

• Take any certificates you have achieved with you

In some cases you can be interviewed by more than one person, they may ask you to present or demonstrate something. If this is the case your recruitment officer will work with you ahead of the interview to practice and build your confidence.

• Plan your route before the day, if using public transport check times in advance • Have your interview attire organised the day before

For more details, visit www.citytraining.org.uk or call 01274 728316

9

Our Apprenticeships Your Apprenticeship level will be worked out from your current qualifications and by attending an interview.

Levels of Apprenticeships on offer: ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS • Accountancy Level 2 and Level 3 • Business Administration Level 3 • Team Leading Management (Team Leader/Supervisor) Level 3 • Management (Operations/Departmental Manager) Level 5

CONSTRUCTION AND TRADES • Bricklayer Level 2 and Level 3 • Electrical Engineering Level 3 • Electrical Installation Level 3 • Fire Emergency & Security Systems Technician Level 3 • Joinery Level 2 and Level 3 • Maintenance Engineering Level 3 • Mechanical Engineering Level 3 • Plastering Level 2 • Property Maintenance Operative Level 2 • Refrigeration Air-conditioning Level 3

10

DIGITAL AND IT

MOTOR VEHICLE AND LOGISTICS

• Digital Marketer Level 3 • IT Specialist

• Fast Fit Technician Level 2 • Heavy Vehicle Technician Level 3

Level 2

• Light Vehicle Technician Level 3

HEALTHCARE SERVICES • Childcare Level 2 and Level 3

SERVICE INDUSTRIES

• Dental Nursing Level 3

• Hairdressing Level 2 and Level 3

• Health Care Support Worker Level 2

• Barbering Level 2 and Level 3

• Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 • Pharmacy Level 2 and Level 3 • Support Teaching and Learning Level 2 and Level 3

For more details, visit www.citytraining.org.uk or call 01274 728316

11

Your Apprenticeship journey Select and apply

CV Building

Letter

Once you’ve considered your options and looked at the range of apprenticeships we offer, visit www. findaapprenticeship. service.gov.uk/ apprenticeshipsearch to view our latest vacancies.

Select the ones you’re interested in and apply online.

If you don’t have a CV and don’t know where to start, attend one of our CV Building workshops.

It is always a good idea to contact local employers by writing a covering letter and ask if they would consider looking at your CV and employing you as an apprentice, This proactive approach works very well and gives a good first impression to employers.

Call our Recruitment Team on 01274 728316 to book your place today!

Research Look for employers in your area that you think would be suitable for the apprenticeship you want to begin.

Research

Select and apply

begin

12

CV building

Follow Up

Interview

Success

Whether you’ve applied for one of our vacancies, contacted employers yourself, or done both, it’s always a good idea to politely follow up. Please allow at least a week for your application to be considered before politely following up via email or telephone.

Fantastic, you’ve secured an interview. Our Recruitment Team will provide ongoing support whether you’re attending an interview for one of our vacancies or you’ve secured one yourself.

Remember to keep us in the loop if you have secured this yourself so you don’t miss out on the teams expertise advice and guidance.

Congratulations, you’ve secured your apprenticeship! We will now invite you to an induction which will provide you with all the information you need to continue on your apprenticeship journey.

Follow up

success

Interview

Letter

How do apprenticeships compare to your other options?

Once you’ve completed your GCSEs you can progress onto a variety of qualification pathways. Use the table below to see how apprenticeships compare with traditional routes of study.

Apprenticeship

Level

Equivalent education level

1 Intermediate

2

Five GCSEs (grade A*/9 - C/4) Level 2 BTEC First / NVQ

Advanced

3

Two A Levels / Level 3 BTEC Diploma / NVQ / Award / Certificate Access to HE Diploma

Higher

4/5

HNC / HND / Foundation Degree

Degree

6/7

Bachelor’s / Master’s Degree

For more details, visit www.citytraining.org.uk or call 01274 728316

13

Apprenticeship profiles Bayley, an apprentice with City Training Services says “I originally applied to study creative writing at York St Johns, but changed my mind as I thought an apprenticeship might give me a better career in the long run. I went on the City Training Services website which gave me a great overview of available apprenticeships and thought the Accountancy apprenticeship looked good. You work towards AAT accounting qualifications which are well respected.”

Nicole Butler, a Dental Nursing apprentice and Precious Dental Care says “My apprenticeship has allowed me to develop my people skills such as working in a team, communication and problem solving. I feel extremely lucky to work at a practice where the people are kind, polite and extremely supportive.

It makes my apprenticeship even better!”

Joe, a Hairdressing apprentice at Krystal’s Hair & Beauty says “I love my apprenticeship because I can come into work, earn a living and learn at the same time. I chose to do an apprenticeship instead of a full-time course at university or college because I wanted to be out in the workplace, learning the proper skills I need to do the job I have chosen to do.”

14

Ofsted says we’re

“Good”

Our Apprenticeship provision is rated as “Good” below are some reasons why:

9/10 EMPLOYERS WOULD RECOMMEND US

LEARNING WHILST YOU ARE IN THE WORKPLACE MEANS YOU’RE ALWAYS PICKING NEW THINGS UP. THERE’S NO REPLACEMENT FOR REAL HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE. CONNER CADDEN, APPRENTICE BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR

97%

76%

OF APPRENTICES SAID THEIR ABILITY TO DO THE JOB HAD IMPROVED

OF EMPLOYERS SAY THAT PRODUCTIVITY HAS IMPROVED

ALICIA, A PHARMACY APPRENTICE WITH PHARM-ASSIST HEALTHCARE SAYS WHEN I DO QUALIFY, THERE ARE A LOT OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE I’VE ALREADY WORKED WITHIN A PHARMACY.

30 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN DELIVERING APPRENTICESHIPS

YOU FEEL LIKE A REGULAR MEMBER OF STAFF AND YOU GET TREATED LIKE ANYONE ELSE IN THE TEAM. MICHAEL - LEVEL 3 IT APPLICATION SPECIALIST

75%

92%

OF EMPLOYERS SAID APPRENTICESHIPS IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF SERVICES

OF APPRENTICES SAY THEIR CAREER PROSPECTS HAD IMPROVED

For more details, visit www.citytraining.org.uk or call 01274 728316

15

ci Em ty tra ai in l in g. or g. uk fo @ in

ine uk onl .org. ply ing Ap train

ity w.c ww

Over the phone 01274 728316

City Training Services, 39/41 Chapel Street, Little Germany, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 5BY 01274 728316 info@citytraining.org.uk www.citytraining.org.uk